White House Situation Room

The White House Situation Room or Situation Room is a 5.000 square foot intelligence and conference center located on the ground floor of the West Wing of the White House.^[1]

The Situation Room has been upgraded several times, most recently in late 2023.^[2]

The Situation Room was created in 1962 by US President John F. Kennedy following the failed Bay of Pigs invasion attempt, which was attributed to a lack of real-time information. The room has integrated secure communications systems, and the walls are made of wood panels that conceal the various audio, video, and other systems.

The room also features three digital clocks displaying the current time in Washington, D.C., and two other geographic locations, usually related to sensitive political or other events. The Room is operated by the staff of the United States National Security Council for use by the President of the United States and his advisors (including the United States Department of Homeland Security and the White House Chief of Staff) to monitor and address domestic and international crises and to conduct secure communications with people abroad (usually overseas).

It features advanced secure communications equipment so the president can maintain control of U.S. military forces deployed around the world. It should not be confused with the Presidential Emergency Operations Center, which is located under the East Wing of the White House. The Situation Room has been modernized several times, most recently in late 2023.^[3]